SE Illinois News

Illinois State Representative Adam Niemerg (R) spoke out against allowing transgender girls to participate in girls' sports in an interview with SE Illinois News.

"I am opposed to boys playing in girls' sports because the boys have a built-in advantage and there is a risk of injury for the girls," Niemerg said. "Boys are faster. They are stronger. They are more physical. There is no reason to allow boys to compete in girls’ sports. Allowing boys to compete in girls’ sports is in essence destroying girls’ sports. If the outcome is predetermined, what incentive do girls have to participate?"

Niemerg also spoke critically of Lia Thomas, a transgender University of Pennsylvania swimmer who won two titles in the women's NCAA swimming championships in March 2022. Many onlookers attacked Thomas as a "cheat", including competitor and University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who tied with Thomas in the 200-meter freestyle championships.

"If girls know they can’t win, then there is little incentive for them to even try to compete," Niemerg said. "These policies are patently unfair and will lead to the end of female sports."

Niemerg voice his concern for the physical well-being of student-athletes, worried that transgender female athletes will inadvertently harm their cisgender peers.

"A high school female volleyball player in North Carolina recently suffered a severe concussion after a biological male spiked the ball during a match," he said. "Girls are going to get hurt competing in sports such as volleyball, basketball, and softball, and unless we take action now – more girls are going to get hurt. Boys are not girls. No amount of hormones is going to turn boys into girls. We need to face reality and protect girls’ sports."

In April, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn a lower court ruling blocking West Virginia's enforcement of its April 2021 law banning transgender girls from participating in girls' high school sports. Those rulings are still expected to be challenged.

Following President Joe Biden proposing a new rule that would amend Title IX to forbid U.S. schools and colleges from banning transgender girls from participating in girls' high school sports, the Prairie State Wire reported that Illinois is one of 29 states that allow transgender girls to participate in girls' high school sports. The other 28 states are as follows: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.